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Sep 08

Now I see where Radiohead got the idea for their No Surprises video!Click for full image

Chris D Jr. Comments: If subtle clues such as the title of the book and the gun held by the bubble-helmeted, caped character on the front cover weren’t enough, the designer has managed to sneak in an oh-so-subtle name tag as a hint to the vigilant observer that the character on the front is probably ‘Gunner Cade’. Probably…
Published 1966

Actually, that cover IS a classical work of art!I would touch it without protective gloves.I've seen worse. Far, far, worse.Interesting, but I would still read it in public.Middlng: Neither awful nor awfully goodWould not like to be seen reading that!Awful... just awful...That belongs in a gold-lame picture frame!Gah... my eyes are burning! Feels so good!Good Show Sir! (Average: 8.53 out of 10)
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24 Responses to “Gunner Cade”

  1. A.R.Yngve Says:

    See? You CAN make a book cover on a budget of five quids.

  2. A.R.Yngve Says:

    “Greetings, people of 1966! I am Gunner Cade… and I have come from the future to warn you about the impending doom that will befall mankind… if you succumb to the tyranny of punchcards!”

  3. Adam Roberts Says:

    So long as you don’t take that tag from round his neck, and keep the receipt, you can always take him back to ‘Caped-Helmetted-Assassins-R-Us’.

  4. THX 1138 Says:

    The cape is a nice touch, but I’d like to see him conduct a proper conversation in that. It’s tight.

  5. Simon Says:

    I quite like that one. More out of loyalty to Penguin’s awesome 1960s SF covers than anything else. The gun is shite but the bubble head and the cape (and the label) make for a genuine weirdness. Which is good.

  6. SI Says:

    I like this cover a lot. Penguin did make some fantastic ones!

    I’m also pretty sure that the top of that gun is a modified solder sucker:

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/Solder_sucker.jpg

  7. Herm Says:

    Ooooh @SI #6. Good Show Sir just taught me something. (About a subject other than typography, artistic anatomy and graphic design, that is.)

  8. Christal Says:

    His head looks like it might explode from how tiny his collar and helmet are. Reminds me of those damn ‘Goombas’ from the horrible Mario Brothers cult film from childhood ::face palm::

  9. fred Says:

    Cold War Stig in not quite British racing green.

  10. SI Says:

    @Herm If I knew something more about punch cards I might be able to tell if the holes meant something. But they’re probably all there for show!

    Good Show Sir! Teaching the world!

    Remember kids, Maths saves lives!

  11. Scott B Says:

    Wow.

    Somebody got extra use out of his Halloween costume that year.

  12. Phil Says:

    Lookis like his head WAS under the cape, but got suddenly sucked into the helmet. Get that guy out of there before he stops breathing!

  13. Unk Says:

    Shouldn’t this have some sort of “zombie” category? I think were talking about a posthumous Gunner Cade here.

  14. Anti-Sceptic Says:

    Is it just me or does the name ‘Cade’ seem too cool to be applied to this fellow?

  15. Kwyjor Says:

    The sequels detail the lives of his whimsically named family members Arr, Cass, and Blau.

    Or not.

  16. seriesfive Says:

    Looks a bit like the eighth man of Blake’s 7 …a bit understated on the homoeroticism theme though….

  17. SteveAsat Says:

    That poor guy looks like he’s been ordered to RELEASE THE CAUSTIC VAPORS once too often. “Seriously, boss, I was issued a handgun when you hired me. Can’t I just shoot the intruders?”

  18. Alessandra Kelley Says:

    The story is actually from 1952, when it was serialized in “Astounding Science Fiction.”

    “Cyril Judd” is the pseudonym of Cyril Kornbluth and Judith Merril.

    I only ever read the middle third of the book (lacking parts 1 and 3 of the serial). It was a weird swashbuckling story set in a distant future of 1940s noir clichés.

  19. Phil Says:

    The costume design looks like an early prototype for this:
    http://www.goodshowsir.co.uk/2012/02/flow-my-tears-the-policeman-said/comment-page-1/#comment-154787

  20. A. Waltz Says:

    Looks like a costume from a Wes Anderson film.

  21. Dead Stuff With Big Teeth Says:

    Noooo! Don’t shoot Mr. Penguin!

  22. Anna T. Says:

    I first thought that the nametag was actually the price sticker.

    Seriously though, is he able to breathe in that thing?

  23. Perry Armstrong Says:

    And remember, whatever you do:

    DON’T.

    This Gunner Cade is brought to you by the wise burghers of Scarfolk Council.

  24. Dead Stuff With Big Teeth Says:

    Tag Wizard: I think we need the ‘low budget’ tag deployed here.

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